Safety fender for motor vehicles



Aug. 13, 1929. z ANDERSQN 1,723,987

SAFETY FENDER FOR'MOTOR VEHICLES Otiginal Filed Nov. 29. 1922 4Sheets-Sheet l 11v VENTOR Ewilflnderaon A TTORNE Y E. ANDERSON 1,723,987

SAFETY FENDER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Aug. 13, 1929.

Original Filed Nov. 29. 1922 4 sheets sheet 2 IN VEN TOR Z'mzl Andaman ATTORNE Y 1929- I E. ANDERSON 1,723,987

SAFETY FENDER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES I Original Filed Nov 29, 1922 4Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR I'm Andaman BY M A TTORNE Y Aug. 13, 1929. E.ANDERSON SAFETY FENDER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 OriginalFiled Nov. 29, 1922 INVENTOR Fmzl Andersam BY W A TTORNE Y ill) PatentedAug. 13, 1929.

Uhll'lED STATES EMIL ANDERSON, OF BRQOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SAFETY FENDER FOR MOTOR VEHEOLEEJ.

Application filed. November 29, 1822, Serial No. 603,925.

This invention relates to safety devices and particularly to safetyfenders for motor ve hicles.

its is well known, accidents involving motor vehicles are very commonand because of their frequent occurrence and of the injuries to life andproperty, as well as to the vehicles, these accidents are now causingserious concern.

This invention has for its object to provide a safety fender for motorvehicles so constructcnjl as to be automatically operated when engagedby any object in the path thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fender movable in such amanner and thrl'mgh such a path as to support from beneath an object orperson in the path thereof.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a fender so constructedand arranged and so mounted on. the vehicle to be substantiallyconcealed when not in use thereby not detracting from the appearance ofthe vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety fender andpositively actuating ()ptll'ft'ifillg mechanism therefor adapted to gmsitively and quickly move the fender to operative position.

Further objects of the invention will ap pear from the followingspecification taken in coi'lneotion with the drawings, which form a partof this implication, and in which l ipg. l is a sectional. elevation ofthe front end pm-tion of a motor vehicle having mounted thereona safetyfender constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. l.

li i s l and 5 are sectional. elevations showing threedifferent stagesin the movement of the fender to operative position.

Fig. (5 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation showing the operatingconnections for the fender actuating shaft.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view partly in section taken right angles toFig. 6.

8 is an enlarged sectional elevation of one end of the fender takensubstantially on line 88 of Fig. 1.

liig. 9 a front elevation of the portion of the fender tha extends abovethe vehicle frame.

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation taken subupon the drive will RenewedJanuary 7, 1929.

stantially on line l0-l0 of Fig. 5, and Fig. 11 is a top plan view ofthe structure shown in Fig. 7.

The invention briefly a safety fender mounted on the front end of amotor vehicle frame and adapted to be lowered into operative positionupon the engagement or collision of a bumper or a cross bar extendingacross the front of the vehicle with some object in the path of thevehicle. The fencer comprises a curtain normally rolled upon a rod andheld in retracted position by a spring and this curtain is unwound ormoved to operative position by means of telescoping actuating mombersconnected thereto. The telescoping members are positively moved frominoperative to operative position by power derived from the enginethrough intermediate shafting and gearing and one set of telescoping;members is movable out of the other set of members by s n'ingns, thismovement being" described comprises permitted in a manner hereafterdescribed.

Means is provided for throwing out the clutch and applying the vehiclebrakes when the fender is moved or lowered into operative position. Uponthe actuation of the fender. the driving, connections therefor will movethe fender to operative position where be automatically disconnected,the fender being retained in operative position until manually released.\Vhen the vehicle operator desires to raise the fender, the drivingconnections are again thrown in and the fender is raised. Furtherdetails of the invention will appear from the following. description.

The vehicle illustrated in the drawings comprises a frame 20, wheels21., a motor 252, clutch pedal 23, emergency brake lever 24 and ignitionswitch 25.

A bumper 2G is mounted at the front of the vehicle frame on bars 27, aspring 28 being interposed between the bumper and brackets 29 secured tothe vehicle frame. The bars 27 are connected by a cross be r 30 whichextends across the front of the frame and is movable longitudinally withreference to theframe when the bumper strikes an object or person in thepath thereof.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated, the fenderconsists mainly of a curtain 31 normally wound on a rod or roller 32rotatably mounted in the bumper 26. A spring 33 engages the roller andthe bumper and winds the curtain on the roller in the same manner as theordinary window curtain.

The free end of the curtain is connected to a rod 34 carried at thefront ends of members 35,'these members telescoping within tubularmembers 36. Springz s 37 are mounted in the members and at their outerends engage the rod 34 and at their inner ends engage studs 38 carriedby the tubular members 36.

In order to prevent injury to a person in the path of the vehicle, meansis provided for giving the fender curtain-and the parts connectedthereto a downward swinging movement or a movement downwardly andforwardlywith respect to the vehicle. To accomplish the swingingmovement, toe tubular members 36 are pivotall v connected by pivot pins39 carried by the studs 38 to crank arms 40 carried by a shaft 41supported in brackets 42 secured to a cross frame member 43.

The shaft 41 is adapted to be positively actuated by power derived fromthe motor shaft in the following manner.

The front end of the motor shaft 45 carries a cross pin 46 adapted to beengaged by a clutch member47 carried by a shaft 48 disposed in alinementwith the shaft and normally out of engagement therewith. The shaft 48 isslidably mounted in the cross frame member 43 and is normally retainedin a position spaced from the shaft 45 by a spring49 interposed betweena bearing member 50 carried by the cross frame member 43 and a collar 51pinned to the shaft 48. The shaft 48 is also slidably supported at itsfront end in a cross frame member 52 connected at its ends to the sideframe members of the vehicle and the front end of the shaft extendsthrough the member 30 which, as above stated, ismovable with and may beformed integral with the bars 27. As shown in Fig. 2, the brackets 29 inwhich the bars 27 are slidable may be carried by or formed integral withthe cross frame member 52.

The drive from the shaft 48 to the shaft 41 is transmitted through apair of spiral gears 53 and 54 carried respectively by the shafts 48 and41.

The gear 53 is splined as shown at 55 to the shaft 48 and is retainedagainst movement with the shaft when the shaft is moved longitudinallyby means of a spring 56 interposed between the collar 51 on the shaftand the. hub 57 of the gear. The gear 53 abuts against the cross framemember 52 and spring .56 presses the gear against this menn her andretains the gear in this position in which it meshes with the gear 54regardless of the position of the shaft 48.

In order to permit the rotation of the thereto and extending therefromin shaft 48 by means of a crank handle to st art the motor withoutoperating the safety fender, the gea is connected to the shaft 41through a jaw clutch comprising members 58 and 59, the men'iber beingconnected to the gear 54 or formed integral therewith and the member 55)being splined as shown at (50 to the shaft 41. A collar ('i'l. is pinnedto the shaft and is disposed within the clutch member in order toproperly position the gear 54 on the shaft. The gear 54 also has asleeve or hub 62 formed on or secured a direction opposite to the clutchmember 58. A spring (33 mounted on the shaft 41 and is interposedbetween a collar (i-l; pinned to the shaft and one end 5 of the clutchmember 55) and this spring tends to retain the chilch members 58 and 59in driving engagement with each other.

In order to permit rotation of the shaft 48 and gears 53 and 54 withoutcausing the shaftto rotate, a lever (36 is pivoted at 67 to the vehicleframe and has its lower end OS disposed in a, groove (39 formed in theclutch member 59. A roller 70 may be mounted at the lower end (38 of thelever (S6, if desired.

The lever (36 is actuated to release the clutch members by means of acable 71 connectcd at one end to the lever and at its opposite end to abell crank lever 72 pivoted on the frame and the opposite end of thebell crank lever is connected by a cable or rod 73 to a ring 74-, thiscable or rod 73 extending through the front end 75 of the frame and thering '74 being disugosed at the front of the frame in a position to beengaged by the operator.

It will thus be seen that when the operator desires to crank the motor.the crank handle is connected to the front end. of (he shaft 48 in theusual manner and the shaft is pushed inwardly to a position in which theclutch ember 47 will engage the cross pin 46 carried by the front end ofthe motor shaft 45. At the same time the operator will pull forwardly onthe ring 74. thereby moving the lever (56 to the left (see Fig. 7). Thisu1ovement of the lever will release the clutch members 58 and 58),thereby disconnecting the gear 54 from the shaft 41 and permitting freerotation of the gear without effecting rotation. of the shaft 41..

The automatic actuation of the shafts 11-8 and 41 and operation. of thefender is cffectcd in the following manner. The ha ft 41 is supportedintermediate ifs ends by a bracket having an extension 81 on which ispivoted at 82 a lever 83. This lever has formed thereon intermediate itsends and above the pivot 82 a laterally extending log 84 on which ispivoted at 85 a roller 8(3. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. the roller80 is positioned at the r ar of and in engagement Elli lfil) l l U litwith the cross bar 30 and is also positioned immediately in frontof acollar 87 pinned to the shaft 18. At its lower end the lever 83 carriesa roller 88 adapted to seat in one or the other of a pair ofdiametrically opposite depressions 89 formed in a cam 90 secured orformed on the sleeve or hub (32 of the gear 1-.

.lv'ieans is provided for manually releasing the roller 88 or the leverfrom the depressions 89 and this means consists of a cable 91 secured tothe upper end 2 of the lever and extending around sheaves and 9 1- andrearwardly through the dash or instrument board 95, a ring 96 beingsecured to the rear end of the cable 91. The operator by pulling on thecable 91 will swing the lever 83 in a clockwise direction F lg. 6),thereby releasing the roller 88 from the depression 89 which it isseated and permitting rotation 01? the cam 90 and gear The forwardmovement oi? the members 35 in the tubular members 36 is controlled bymeans of a cable 100 secured at its opposite ends 101 and 102 to studs103 and a mounted on the side frame members of the vehicle. The cable100 extends around sheaves 105 mounted on the rear ends oi? the members36 and through. the members 36 and 37 as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 1-, 5 and8 and also through the rod 3% secured to the members 35. If desired,however, a separate cable could be connected. to the frame and to thefront ends of the rods 35 instead 01 making the cable continuous andextending it through the rod 34:.

Fig. 3 illustrates somewhat diagramniiatically the raised or normalposition of the tender and from this view it will be seen that when therods 35 are retracted a considerable length of the cable will extend. between the studs 101 and 102 and the sheaves 105 carried by the members36. When, however, the members 36 are swu 11g downwardly by the crankarms 40, the rear ends of the members will approach. more closely thelined ends 101 and 102 of the cable, thereby shortening the lengths ofcable between the sheaves 105 and the studs 101 and 1.02. In Fig. 5 itwill be noted that the rear ends of the members 36 have approached stillmore closely the points of connection of the cable to the frame, therebystill further shortening the length of cable between the points ofattachment of the cable to the frame and the sheave 105. This shorteningoi the length of cable beyond the ends of the members 36 will permit theforward movement oil? the rods since the cable intermediate the endportions is lengthened. Therefore, as the members o6 swung to theirlower position in which it will be noted that these members engage theunder surface of the cross frame member 4-3, the rods are permitted toslide longitudinally in the mem- This lirai'ne comprises apair of rodsor links 110 pivoted at 111 to sleeves 112 carri ed by the members 30and the rods 110 teiescope in the tubular members 113 swiveled as shownat 11 1 to theside frame members of the vehicle. The members 113 areconnccted at their upper ends by a cross bar .115

and intermediate the ends of the members 113 a plate 116 is connected bysprii'igs 11'? thereto. This plate 116 may, it desired, he the numberplate of the vehicle.

In Fig. 1 the normal position of the supplemental, supporting frame isshown in full lines and the position of this means when the fender hasbeen lowered is shown in dot and dash lines.

in addition to providing means for automatically lowering the fenderwhen the bmnpcr or cross bar at the front end oi? the vehicle collideswith an. object or person, means has been provided for throwing out thedriving clutch and for arn ilying the brakes to the vehicle. The clutchpedal. 23

operated by means of a cable 120 con nected at its front end 121 to theend of one of the studs 38 mounted in one 01? the tubular members 86 andat rear end at 122 to a hell crank lever 123 which in turn is con nectedby a link 12 1 to the clutch pedal The en'icrgency brake lever isoperated by a cable connection 130 secured at 131 to the stud 38 carriedby the other tubular 1nen1- ber 36 and secured at its rear end to alever arm 132 which in turn is connected by a link 1133 to the lower end134. ot the brake lever 2 1.

If desired, the ignition may be cut oil from the motor when the tenderis lowered and in Fig. 1 there is shown a cable or link 135 connected atone end as shown at 136 to the bell crank lever 123 and at its oppositeend to the igi'iition. switch 25.

The safety fender operates in the following mann When the bumper 26strikes objec person in the path thereof, the bumper will be pushed.rcarwardly against the tension of the springs 28 and will carry with itthe cross bar 30. its this bar forced rearwardly, the lever 83 will beswims; on its motor shaft 45.

operative engagement between the shafts 4!" and 48, the lower end of thelever will be swung forwardly releasing the roller 88 carried therebyfrom one of the depressions 89 in the cam 90 and permitting rotation ofthe cam 90 and gear 54 connected thereto. he rotation of the shaft 48 bythe shaft will in turn rotate the shaft 41 through the gears 53 and 54and clutch connections 58 and 59 between the gear 54 and the shaft 41.As the shaft 41 is rotated, the crank arms 40 will swing from theposition shown in Fig. 3 through substantially 180 degree. to theposition shown in Fig. 5, thereby lowerin the tubular members 36 andpermitting longitudinal movement of the members 35 in the members 36 inthe manner hereinbefore described. The operation just described will, ofcourse, unwind the curta n 31 from the curtain roller 34 as shown inFig. 5.

At the same time the movement of the tubular members 36 will swing thefender frame formed by the members 113 and the member 114 from the fullline position shown in Fig. 1 to the dot and dash line position.

Furthermore, as the tubular members 36 are swung to their lower positiona pull will be exerted on the cables 120 and 130, thereby throwing outthe vehicle clutch, applying the brakes and cutting off the ignition inthe manner hereinbefore described.

After the fender has been swung down wardly to operative position, thecam will have rotated through 180 degrees and the roller 88 will moveinto the depression 89 onposite the depression in which it was initial:ly seated. As the roller 88 seats in the depression, the lever 83 willswing about the pivot 82 to the position shown in Fig. 6,

thereby disengaging the driving connection between the shafts 48 and 4?.In order to raise the fender to inoperative position, the vehicle driverwill pull on the cable 91, there by swinging the lever 83 again. in aclockwise direction, releasing the roller 88 from the depression 89 inwhich it is seated and permitting the rotation of the shaft 41 throughone half of one revolution to the initial position shown in Fig. 8.

'lVhen the vehicle driver desires to crank the engine by hand, the crankhandle is placed on the front end of the shaft 48 and is pushedrearwardly causing the shaft 48 to be operatively connected to the shaft45. At the same time the driver will pull on the cable 73, therebyswinging the lever 66 (Fig. 7) in a clockwise direction and disengagingthe clutch members 58 and59. Manual rotation of the shaft 48 willthereafter be permitted without operating the safety fender mechanismsince the gear 54 will be rotated freely on the shaft 41 by the gear52-3.

Although. one specific embodiment of the invention has been particularlyshown and described, it will be understood that the invention is capableof modification and that changes in the construction and arrangement ofthe various cooperating parts may be made without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention as cx n'esscd in the following claims.

V hat I claim is:

1. In COlIlb'lDiltlOI], a motor vehic e having a motor thereon, a shaftdriven thereby, a safety fender mounted on said vehicle, connectionsbetween said fender and said sha ft whereby said fender may be moved tooperative position by motive power derived from said shaft and motor,and means for automatically disconnecting said connections when saidfendar has been moved to operative position.

2 In combination, a motor vehicle having a motor thereon, a shaft driventhereby, a safety fender mounted on said vehicle, connections betweensaid fender and said shaft whereby said fender may be moved to operativeposition by motive power derived from said shaft and motor, a transversemember secured to and extending across the front of the vehicle andmeans controlled by said iii-ember for render-in said connectionsoperative.

8. In combination, a motor vehicle having a motor thereon, a shaftdriven thereby, a. safety fender mounted on said vehicle, connectionsbetween said fender and said shaft whereby said fender may be moved tooperative position by motive power derived from said shaft and motor, atransverse member secured to and extending across the front of thevehicle, means controlled by said member for rendering said connectionsoperative, and means automatically operable when said fender has beenactuated for .rcndering the connections between the fender and shaftinoperative.

4. In combination, a. motor vehicle having a motor, a shaft driventhereby, a safety fender mounted on the vehicle, and mechanism formoving said fender to operative and inoperative position including aclutch for connecting said mechanism to said shaft.

5. In combination, a motor vehicle having a motor, a shaft driventhereby, a safety fender mounted on the vehicle. mechanism for movingsaid fender to operative and inoperative position including a clutch forconnecting said mechanism to said shaft. and means including a bumperfor actuating said clutch to connect the shaft to said fender operatingmechanism.

6. In combination, a motor vehicle having a motor, a shaft driventhereby, a safety ill) fender mounted on the vehicle, mechanism formoving said fender to operative and inoperative position including aclutchfor connecting said mechanism to said shaft, means for actuatingsaid clutch to connect the shaft to said fender operating mechanism, andautomatically operable means for releasing said clutch when the fenderhas been moved to operative position.

7. In combination, a motor vehicle having a motor, a shaft driventhereby, a safety fender mounted on the vehicle, mechanism for movingsaid fender to operative and inoperative position including a clutch forconnecting said mechanism to said shaft, and means including; a memberextending transversely across the front of the vehicle for actuatingsaid clutch to connect the shaft to said fender operating mechanism.

8. In combination, a motor vehicle having a motor, a shaft driventhereby, a safety fender mounted on the vehicle, mechanism for movingsaid fender to operative and inoperative position including a clutch forcoimecting said mechanism. to said shaft, and means including a bumperextendingtransversely across the front of the vehicle for actuating saidclutch to connect the shaft to said fender operating mechanism.

9. In combination, a motor vehicle having a motor, a shaft driventhereby, a safety fender, including a curtain. adapted to be lowered toa position near the ground, mounted on the vehicle, and mechanism formoving said fender to operative and inoperative position including aclutch for connecting said mechanism to said shaft.

10. In combination, a power driven shaft, a shaft adapted to be driventhereby, crank arms on said second shaft, members mounted on said crankarms, rods slidable in said members, a fender carried by said rods andoperative driving connections between said shafts.

11. In combination, a power driven shaft, a shaft adapted to be driventhereby, crank arms on said second shaft, members 1nounted on said crankarms, rods slidable in said.

members, resilient means carried by said members and adapted to movesaid rods forwardly in said members, a fender carried by said rods and.operative driving conneclions between said. shafts.

12. In combination, a power driven shaft,

a shaft adapted to be driven thereby, crank arms on said second shaft,members 1nounted on said crank arms, rods slidable in said members, across rod connected to the front ends of said rods, and a fender curtainmounted on the front of the vehicle frame and connected at its free endto said rod.

13. In combination, a motor vehicie having a motor driven shaft, abumper mounted on the front end of the vehicle, a roller mounted in saidliiumper, a fender curtain secured at one end to said roller, and meansoperable from said. shaft and connected to the free end of said curtainfor unwinding said. curtain and moving the fender curtain downwardly.

let. In combination, a motor vehicle having a motor driven shaft, abumper mounted on the front end of the vehicle, a roller mounted insaid. bumper, a fender curtain secured at one end to said roller, meansoperable from said shaft and connected to the free end of said curtainfor unwinding said curtain and moving the fender curtain downwardly, andmeans connected to said bumper for connecting said curtain unwindingmeans to said shaft. 7

15. In combination, a motor vehicle having a motor, a motor shaft, asafety fender, (.iperativc driving connections between said fender andsaid shaft and including a driving clutch, a member carried at the frontof the vehicle frame in a position to engage an obs.;ruction in the pathof the vehicle and adapted to actuate said driving clutch and connectsaid fender driving connections to said shaft.

16. In combination, a motor vehicle having a motor, a motor shaft, aclutch between said shaft and the vehicle wheels and a brake, a safetyfender, operative driving); connections between said fender and saidshaft and including: a driving clutch, a men1. ber carried at the frontof the vehicle frame in a position to engage an obstruction in the path.of the vehicle and adapted to actuate said driving clutch and connectsaid fender driving connections to said shaft, and operative connectionsbetween said fender and said iirst-named clutch and between said fenderand said brake.

In witness whereof, I have hereunh.) set my hand this 16th day ofNovember, 1922.

EMIL ANDERSON.

